Additional HMO licensing in Denbighshire
Yes. Denbighshire operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Denbighshire?
Yes. Denbighshire operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Denbighshire does the scheme cover?
County-wide, with Denbigh, Llangollen, Prestatyn and Rhyl re-designated within it. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Denbighshire's scheme end?
The designation runs until 31 January 2031, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
Denbighshire publishes this much: Same fee table as mandatory (cost code 3479-40142 additional against 3479-40091 mandatory), so the additional fee does not differ. Denbighshire County Council Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2025, Cabinet approved 21 October 2025 under s.56. Denbigh, Llangollen, Prestatyn and Rhyl redesignated and the scheme extended county-wide. Commences 1 February 2026, runs to 31 January 2031.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
What the designation says
An additional HMO licensing scheme is in force across Denbighshire. The Denbighshire County Council Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2025 was approved on 21 October 2025, commenced on 1 February 2026 and runs for a maximum of five years, until 31 January 2031. The areas of Denbigh, Llangollen, Prestatyn and Rhyl were re-designated and the scheme was then expanded to cover the whole county. It catches properties let to three or more tenants forming more than one household, whether or not they share facilities, and certain converted multi-unit buildings that do not meet the 1991 Building Regulations standard where fewer than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied. Because the scheme reaches three-tenant households it is considerably wider than mandatory licensing. Landlords in Wales must also register and be licensed through Rent Smart Wales, which is a separate requirement.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Denbighshire before letting.